Pam Digrandi, Official Fan Reporter@spottergal188

I was once again fortunate to attend this race. Since I live here in the Charlotte area I was fortunate enough to keep a closer eye on the upcoming hurricane. We also have an excellent local meteorologist to help predict Matthew's path, you may have heard of him, Brad Panovich, (some of you may know him as @wxbrad on Twitter). With a 50/50 chance that Hurricane Matthew was going to take a westerly path, it was hard to predict where this storm was headed. Unfortunately, he came a little west and all on track activity was ultimately cancelled for both Friday and Saturday. A double header we would have for the 2nd week in a row. So. how would a scheduled night race work out for an early Sunday race time for the teams? This was the second year in the row that mother nature has manipulated the start time for the Bank of America 500.

Thursday's Bojangles Pole Night did have beautiful weather though and that was a good thing because that would ultimately be the only time that the Cup cars had any practice time. The 1 team ended practice 24th. Not exactly great. Qualifying though was a different story. McMurray got to the second round! Jamie and team put the 1 McDonald's in the 16th position for the race! Nice job team!

Throughout the race Jamie and team spent about 90% in the top 15. This was surprisingly a great race for the 1 team. Restarts were good and pit stops were very good. Lap 258 brought out the caution. This caution takes out multiple drivers after a restart goes wrong. Involved are: 3,16,18,19,21,24,27,41,44,78 and of course the 1 car. Luckily we had minor damage and the car was able to be repaired under regular pit stops. I don't know how it happened, but McMurray on the very last lap, just before the finish line, managed a 10th place finish! He somehow beat the 10 car to a top 10 finish.

In what was a soggy and abbreviated weekend it did not turn out so badly after all. Even though Jamie and the 1 team were eliminated from Chase contention after the round of 12, I still believe that they can make some noise in these final 6 races. Next race is the Hollywood Casino from Kansas Speedway. The spring race for this team was not a memorable one and I am sure that they are looking to improve on that.

The Last Great Colosseum for the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race. Bristol Motor Speedway. The sponsor title is "Night Race". Mother Nature had other plans. This race began on Saturday night with Carl Edwards -who won both poles at Bristol this year- leading the field to green and got all the way to lap 48 before finally calling it a night at almost 12am in the east. The race was to resume on Sunday to turn the race into a 'day' race, but the rain continued to fall and at around 4:30ish, they restarted what had begun the night before. Since nothing really significant went on during those first 48 laps, we will now begin with Lap 49 and beyond, so here it goes...

Jamie had raced all the way on up to 20th when the rain came the night before and ran in or around there before the competition caution at lap 85. Not long after that, that is when JM began his charge to the front! By lap 225 BOTH Ganassi cars were running in the top 10! Great effort! At halfway JM was running in the 8th position.

Here is a quick lap-by-lap rundown:-Lap 254 debris caution in turn 3, Jamie comes in for 4 tires and fuel since his car was still tight that run. He restarted p9-Lap 308 Larson spins but suffers no damage. JM comes in under this caution for tires, fuel and air pressure adjustment to fix a loose handling car. Restarted p10-Lap 358 Caution for Kyle Busch JM not involved, but came in for 4 tires, fuel and adjustments. Restarted p6!-Lap 416 Caution. 4 tires, fuel and air pressure adjustment to once again try and fix a loose handling race car-Lap 500 Checkered flag with a top 10 finish! The race finished when it was originally supposed to start on the previous day, Saturday.

So after a slow start by Jamie and the 1 team, they seemed to really get going just over half way. A really great effort by the team during the race to get the car handling so he can stay in the top 10 for the remainder of the race. Jamie doesn't always run that well at Michigan, but I am hoping that he does this time around because I would really hate for them to lose all this momentum.

We are down to the final 3 races before Chicago and just one bad race between now and then can cost you a spot to get in to that Chase for the Cup. I have faith in this team. The pit crew I believe is up there with the Joe Gibbs Racing bunch, they are that good. Now with that being said, Jamie, it's all on you. Let's do this.

Here we are at the last road course of the 2016 season, Watkins Glen in upstate New York for the Cheez-It 355. Time is slowly running out for those without wins this season to make the Chase in which the 1 team happens to be one of those teams. Still seeking their first win of 2016. Can this race be "the" race that they make it? If they do not happen to make it into the Chase, will this be the track that is one of those "could've beens"?

The weekend started off kinda iffy for Jamie and the 1 team. They really did not practice all that well. Needless to say that when they qualified 10th for the race I was happy! Nice starting spot! He usually qualifies well on road courses anyway. By lap 4 when the race began JM had already gone around Ryan Newman for 9th! He kind of hung around the top 12 for a little bit before finally coming in for a green flag stop while running p2 for 4 tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment.

At lap 40 while running in the 17th position, Jamie tells crew chief Matt McCall that the car is pretty loose through the esses on both sides and that was really the only complaint about the car all race long. At half way he was running p 15.

There were 2 red flag events for this race. The first one happening at lap 52 due to a big crash coming out of the carousel at the narrow part of the track.

Luckily no Chase Bubble drivers were involved. That first red flag lasted 13 minutes and 19 seconds. The second red flag happened at lap 84 and lasted for 16 minutes and 44 seconds. The one notable driver trying to make it into the Chase after getting a win is Chris Buescher and he was involved in the second red flag crash. Thankfully, JM was NOT involved in either one and everyone involved was okay.

Caution for debris in the inner loop at lap 64 had JM running p 14. He stayed out under this caution and on the restart by turn 1 he had already gained 2 positions and by lap 76 he was back running in the top 10. He never looked back! Go Jamie! Lap 81 the caution comes out for a spin by Ryan Newman, who happens to be right near Jamie in the Chase standings. This could have some serious Chase implications here. We shall see come Richmond in a few weeks time. For now they are off to the "Last Great Coliseum!" at Bristol Motor Speedway for the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race!

July 24, 2016My race recap for the Crown Royal Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at the Brickyard. Jamie McMurray has won here once before. Can he do it again? He did qualify 9th for this race, so lets see what he's got this year.

After an early caution at lap 3 for a blown engine on Matt DiBenedetto's machine, things were quiet. Around lap 25 Jamie tells McCall that the car feels a little loose but runs slower, meantime he is running in 6th place. So the next lap Jamie comes in for a green flag stop for 4 tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment. Lap 52 brings out the second caution of the day when Greg Biffle hits the wall. Jamie brings his tight handling race car down pit road for 4 tires and a wedge adjustment and restarting p10.

Halfway mark of the race at lap 80, the 1 team currently ran in 14th place. By lap 87 it was time for more green flag stops and Jamie came in for 4 tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. Lap 120 David Ragan loses a left rear tire in turn 2 bringing out caution #3 and Jamie was the beneficiary of that caution. Four tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment is the call for this stop and they will restart p13.

Here is where the fun begins. Lap 150 caution for debris and Tony Stewart gets the lucky dog. McMurray comes down pit road to the attention of his pit crew for a 4 tire stop and restarts p13 with 7 laps to go. At lap 154 a huge wreck bringing out the red flag with multiple drivers involved. McMurray and teammate Kyle Larson were not in it. Jamie restarts p11. Cautions breed cautions and this time the yellow flag waves for Clint Bowyer and Trevor Bayne. We are headed for overtime!

While running in the 12th position and a promising finish ahead, just ahead of turn 2 McMurray was told he was clear low and apparently the hole that was there quickly closed up when Tony Stewart made a charge to the front. Jamie wrecked. It wasn't Stewart's fault. It was a racing deal. Jamie reports that the car is "fine" after putting on new tires and quick repairs. It's a good thing that the race was just about over. He restarted p18 and ended in the 19th position still managing to stay on the lead lap.

This race had 4 total lead changes and 8 cautions. Not a bad points day for the 1 team even with that finish. 14th regular points and 15th on the Chase grid.

June 6, 2016​The Pocono spring race Axalta "We Paint Winners" 400 was delayed one day due to rain and was run on a Monday. It's been awhile since a Sprint Cup race had been postponed. This race had the Cessna colors for the #1 CGR Teams Chevrolet.

The caution flag flew early at lap 4 for a Matt DiBenedetto spin. Jamie reports that the car was a little loose in the center and tight off while moving up 1 spot to p25. When the field went back to green, Jamie re-starts 14th while teammate Kyle Larson leads the field to the green!

Lap 87 caution flag for debris. Prior to that caution, Jamie and the 1 team had already made a pit stop under green for four tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment. The team takes the wave around to get back onto the lead lap.

Jamie ran most of the race in the top 20 and managed to stay on the lead lap most of the race. Crew chief Matt McCall had instructed McMurray to save a little fuel for the end of the race. Oops. Jamie must've forgotten because on the final lap the tank went dry while running p14 and he wound up finishing 17th.

The next race is at Michigan International Speedway for the Firekeepers Casino 400 - 200 laps at 400 miles.

May 29, 2016It was a top 20 finish for the Cessna/McDonalds #1 Chevrolet. The highest finish for the team in a couple of races. Even though they finished 1 lap down, they still ran well enough to race with cars on the lead lap as they had little to no chances to make up that lap due to only 4 cautions in the entire race. Jamie McMurray finished in the 19th position.

I attended this race as I have for the last 10 years. This time though I had the privilege of representing our site at the track with fellow site OFR, Cathleen Moncsko who represents Austin Dillon. It was a wonderful time and I got to meet up with some friends in the garage area.

A crash in the opening practice from the rear end grease of the 10 car sends Jamie McMurray to a back up car for the AAA 400 Drive For Autism. He qualified with that back up so there was no need to start at the back of the field.

The back up car was a good one until being involved in a chain reaction restart at lap 354 which brought out the red flag. Lap 358 Jamie has been called back down to serve a penalty for too many crew members over the wall to make repairs to the car. They finished multiple laps down with yet another race to forget.

Next points race up is the Coca-Cola 600.​Follow and chat with me here: @spottergal188

Image courtesy: jamiemcmurray.com

Odd Penalty

May 7, 2016It was an okay weekend for Jamie McMurray and team. They did not practice all that great with first practice p17, second practice p22 and eventually qualifying in the 21st position.

The Go Bowling 400 from Kansas Speedway did not go quite so well for the #1 McDonalds Chevy especially after lap 22 for a debris caution. Jamie had come in for what should've been a routine pit stop when a pit crew member had made some unapproved adjustments on the car. NASCAR on lap 30 radios the 1 team to get their driver to pit road to be held for 1 lap to serve the penalty. Eventually Jamie and team ended up 2 laps down, never recovering from that.

TeamJMac ran as low as 40th and as high as 2nd in this race eventually ending the night in 26th. Still 15th in points at this point, but the lead on last Chase spot is dwindling...Fast. I'm pretty sure that this team is wanting a much better showing when they return here in the fall. Next race is at Dover.

May 1, 2016The Geico 500 from Talladega Super Speedway was one of the better races this year. Lots of action on the track, but first, was weather going to be a factor? Rain had been in the forecast for this race, which may have led to the sense of urgency by the drivers to just get this race in. Hence the action packed race.

Jamie McMurray and the #1 McDonalds team practiced fairly well for this race. They ended first practice p1. Second practice p20 eventually qualifying in the 30th position.

Surprisingly, there was no caution until lap 51. It was for the 88, 5 and the 38 wrecking. Nice work by spotter Tyler Green getting Jamie through that one.

At lap 160 "The Big One" happens. Lots of cars involved in what seems to be half the field if not more. Unfortunately, McMurray was involved. Luckily though the damage was not that severe so he was able to continue and contend for the win. The crew did an outstanding job keeping Jamie on the lead lap while making repairs to the rear of the car. At lap 180 Michael McDowell and Danica Patrick got loose sending the 20 of Matt Kenseth airborne. That sets up a crazy finish with Jamie restarting p4 with just 3 laps remaining.

Brad Keselowski gets the win and Jamie finishes in 4th place! This was his highest finish all season. He ran as high as 3rd in this race with his lowest position in 32nd. He ran 122 laps in the top 15 with an average running position of 12th.

Jamie and team remained in the 15th position in the standings after this race. Next race is at Kansas for the Go Bowling 400.

April 24, 2016This race marks the first race for new sponsor for Chip Ganassi Racing Teams No. 1 car, Credit One Bank as a primary sponsor. A sharp looking race car if I say so myself. They seem like they will fit in nicely and hoping that they will will find success as a new sponsor in the sport and will stick around for years to come. Having them on board for the car this season, that means that Jamie had the in-car camera and was in-race reporter for the Toyota Owners 400. To have Jeff Gordon talking to Jamie before the race was kinda cool.

Jamie McMurray started this race in the 27th position getting all the way up to as high as 7th before finishing p16. He ran in mid pack most of the race, even going down one lap to the leaders at one point. He was lucky enough to get a break later on in the race to get back on the lead lap. For most of the race he kept asking crew chief why everyone else can roll through the corner, but he cannot. All afternoon the crew tried working on the car to make it better to handle. It was an okay race for Jamie and the team. Hoping they have a better showing in this race in the fall.

The next race will be Talladega Super Speedway on Sunday May 1 on FOX for the Geico 500.

April 17, 2016Here we are at the Last Great Coliseum, Bristol Motor Speedway for Food City 500 and 500 laps of racing. This race had a lot of passing and with the new package for 2016, it felt like the racing of old. Something that has been missing since this tracks re-pave. There was 16 lead changes and 15 cautions. Joe Gibbs racing brought out their fair share of the cautions with the 11, 18 and the 20 teams all having significant tire issues. The one car that didn't seem bothered by that was the 19 of Carl Edwards who got his first win of 2016.

Jamie McMurray qualified the McDonalds #1 Chevy in the 13th position for this race with an average position of 14th. He ran in the top 15 for more than 3/4 of the race going no lower than 24th all the way and up to p9 for his highest position of the race. If he wasn't restarting the race after the cautions on the low line most of the race, he probably would've been running higher. Jamie had a top 10 car all race, but that's Bristol for ya. Jamie brings home the car in the 13th position and remains 13th in points.

Here is a little bit of what went on during the race for Jamie: - At lap 52 for the 1st caution of the day for Kyle Busch blowing a right front tire, Jamie was running in the 19th position and he brings the car in to the attention of his pit crew for 4 tires and air pressure change to try and help a loose handling car. -Lap 220 a caution for David Ragan blowing an engine. Jamie comes down pit road under this caution to fix a car that was loose on throttle and tight in center. He restarts p19. -At the half way mark of this race JMac is running p20, 9 laps later the caution comes out yet again for Kyle Busch blowing a tire again. This time JMac only comes in for just 2 tires to gain spots and is going to restart 12th. -Lap 409 a caution this time for Denny Hamlin having tire issues this time and getting into the wall. Jamie comes in for 4 tires and wedge adjustment and restarts p15. -Finally for the final caution that was brought out by a spin by Regan Smith, Jamie stays out for the final run to the finish restarting p16. He was not able to get going on this restart due to Joey Logano ahead of him missing a shift, therefore only able to gain 3 positions before the checkered flag flew.

That's a wrap for this race. Next race is coming to us from Richmond, VA for the Toyota Owners 400.

April 9, 2016The first night race of the season begins at Texas Motor Speedway for the Duck Commander 500. For the race Jamie qualified the Bad Boy Off Road #1 Chevy in the 18th position. The start of the race was delayed by 2 hours due to rain and was to be a competition caution at lap 28 and by the time the yellow flag flew for that, Jamie had already dropped a couple of positions. Coming in for that caution, crew chief Matt McCall called for 4 tires and fuel and tells his driver that the tires look good to start the race. He restarted p18.

On lap 178 Jamie radioed and said that the car was lose on entry and exit on the current run and Matt tells him that he was running the same lap times as the leader while in the top 10. However by lap 202 Jamie was saying that the car was running tight. At lap 210 the caution comes out due to Josh Wise hitting the wall so the team has a chance to fix the handling. The 1 car ran in the top 10 for a big chunk of the last part of the race before the caution at lap 286/334 for Greg Biffle going into the wall with tire issues. After this crash, Jamie remained outside the top 10 for the remainder of the race. There was one more caution at lap 293 for Austin Dillon with a total of 13 cars being involved in that wreck.

This race by far has been one of the better ones that the team has had at the intermediate tracks. They ran competitive lap times for most of the race and it also helps that the pit crew is doing a phenomenal job of helping McMurray gain spots on pit road. Keep up the good work guys! Jamie ran more than 3/4 of the race in the top 15 and I believe that that is something that the team can build on for future 1.5 mile tracks. The speed is coming. Jamie brings the car home in the 13th position and 13th in points. Up next is more short track racing at Bristol for the Food City 500!

April 3, 2016The weather was perfect for racing. Sunny, blue skies, temps in the mid 60's. A wonderful day for a NASCAR race in Martinsville, VA for the STP 500 at the "Paper Clip". This race is always one of my favorites to attend. I love coming here because there is always so much racing action and it's fast.

Jamie McMurray qualified the Bad Boy Off Road #1 Chevy in the 15th position for this race. It did not take long for the first caution flag to fly as Dale Jr. goes around on lap 5. After that, there was not a lot of cautions and there was more longer green flag runs. Around lap 111 Jamie was sitting in the lucky dog position after going a lap down to eventual race winner, Kyle Busch. The cautions were not timely enough to ever get the 1 lap back that was needed. It's too bad because he had a really good car otherwise, even passing cars that were on the lead lap in 10th-13th place. Spotter Tyler Green was helpful in finding a good groove to run.

On lap 476 Jamie had some contact with another car and ended up with significant tire rub which eventually would finally give way on lap 483 and he spun bring out the final caution of the day. Jamie ended the race 1 lap down in the 23rd position. On to Texas next Saturday night.

March 20, 2016For the final race of this west coast swing, we find ourselves in southern California at Auto Club Speedway for the Auto Club 400. This race was one of the better races at this track for as long as I can remember. This track is like no other on the circuit because it always brings out the celebs of Hollywood and that is what makes it so unique. Of course the softer tire and that new low down force package makes it interesting, too.

For the race Jamie McMurray qualified 10th. As the race began the car was losing positions early on. By lap 28 though there was a debris caution and JMac was able to bring the McDonald's Chevy in for 4 tires and an adjustment to fix the loose car and restarted p15.On lap 49 the caution comes out as teammate Kyle Larson blew a tire causing him to hit the inside safer barrier. Thank goodness for those walls now as that could have been BAD. Kyle luckily got out of the car was was ok. Jamie brought the car in for for 4 tires and a wedge adjustment. A little while later Jamie radios to the team that he was unhappy with the car due to no grip. Crew chief Matt McCall tells Jamie that he is somehow quicker.

Lap 84 Jamie comes down pit road for a scheduled green flag pit stop for 4 tires, fuel and wedge adjustment. After that stop the car was looser this run and Matt tells him that he is running a good pace and by half way at lap 100 Jamie was p14. At lap 112 the caution comes out yet again, this time for Trevor Bayne . Jamie was running p16 still when that happened and restarted p13 when the race went back to green on lap 114.

Once again the caution flag comes back out due to an incident with Kasey Kahne and Danica Patrick when Kahne (a lap down car) dumped Patrick putting her into the wall (she was fined 20K for coming up to a "hot" track trying to Kahne's attention). Jamie restarts p11. By lap 133 Jamie radios to the team that his car was tight and had no rear grip.

On lap 116 the 1 car was on pit road for a green flag stop when the caution came out for debris, essentially putting the team 1 lap down until they took the wave around on the restart then p24.

Drama on lap 198 when Kyle Busch for the second day in a row, cuts a tire and brings out the final caution of the day and sends this race into "overtime"! Jamie was in p19 on this final restart and SOMEHOW manages to pass a bunch of cars to get his FIRST TOP 10 of 2016!! I am SOOOOOO proud of Jamie! He did great there at the end! He has most certainly made all of #TeamJMac fans happy!

Excited for the next race as I will be in attendance! Martinsville is Jamie's favorite track as well as mine. Short track racing at it's finest! See ya'll in 2 weeks! Enjoy the Easter break!

Quote of the race:Jamie: "Anything wrong with those tires"CC Matt: "Yeah, they're done"

​STATS:

​Start: P10Checkered flag: P10Officially up 3 spots in the point standings to P12. The highest he's been all season​Next race: April 3rd STP500 from the paper clip, Martinsville Speedway, which I will be attending. Will be shown on FS1 1pm.

March 13, 2016Now back to our regular scheduled sunny weather at the desert for the Good Sam 500 at Phoenix International Raceway! Jamie McMurray had an OK race car for the weekend. Practice number one he was 14th before qualifying the McDonald's Chevy in the 11th position.​Starting the race off with a loose race car, McMurray dropped some spots down to 17th. The car seems to have liked the low line of the track. Despite running in and around p16, crew chief Matt McCall radios to Jamie that he is running top 5 times. Around lap 120 the 47 of AJ Allmendinger and Jamie make contact. Jamie radioed the team and asked about potential damage. The team tells him that the car looks good so far. Thankfully the contact did not present damage to cut down a tire. The #1 McDonald's Chevy finished the race in the 16th position, gaining 1 more spot in the standings up to p15.

Next week McDonalds is on the car for the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.

March 6, 2016The west coast swing is officially underway starting with the Kobalt 400 in Las Vegas, Nevada. This also marks the beginning of racing at 1.5 tracks for the season. This race had everything from rain, sun, high winds and even a dust storm.

Jamie McMurray and team qualified p29. However, he had to drop to the rear of the field after hitting the wall during the first round of qualifying and had to go to a back-up car. The back-up car proved to be better than the primary car, so that turned out to be a good thing. By lap 18, he had already moved up to p30. When the competition caution came at lap 32, McMurray pitted for 4 tires and air pressure adjustment, restarting in the 25th position.

For most of the race Jamie ran in mid-pack getting as high as 10th place. Both he and crew chief, Matt McCall, worked on getting the right adjustments to ultimately get the Cessna Chevrolet to a 16th place finish. Jamie and team are now 16th in points. Looking forward to another race in another desert, Phoenix, AZ.

March 7, 2016​I have been a NASCAR fan for as long as I can remember. My dad and I used to watch the races on TV while I was growing up. I used to watch the likes of Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, The Alabama Gang and others.

Back in about 1991-92 a certain driver by the name of Jeff Gordon was coming onto the scene. That was when I really took an interest in NASCAR. However, my interest in the sport genuinely came after I moved from Florida up to South Carolina. Living just south of Charlotte, NC it was only natural that I got into the sport so much.

My favorite drivers of today include Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Kyle Larson, Brian Scott, Jeffrey Earnhardt and many others. Jamie McMurray is my #1 driver though, and I have Bob Dilner to thank for that. One day I was wearing a Jamie Mac shirt with a Dale Jr. jacket and Bob asked me who my favorite driver was. He suggested that I choose Jamie because he doesn't have that big of a fan base. He's been my #1 driver ever since! Attending races with my friends is what I love to do.

Outside of racing I enjoy photography, hanging out with my friends and going to race shops. I am also a fan of the NHL Detroit Red Wings.